SND makes all types of digital research data accessible
Swedish National Data Service (SND) is a national research infrastructure that helps researchers make all types of digital research data accessible. Our services enable you to:
- Find high-quality research data for reuse across a wide range of scientific fields;
- Describe, publish, and share research data;
- Manage data efficiently and sustainably throughout the entire research process.
SND plays a key role in advancing a more open and inclusive research community. Our work aligns with Sweden’s national goal: to make publicly funded research data as open as possible, as restricted as necessary. SND is primarily funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and a consortium of nine of Sweden’s largest universities.
At SND, we aim to create the best possible conditions for researchers to make their data available to both fellow researchers and the general public. To ensure research data can be discovered, cited, and reused, the following are essential:
- Comprehensive descriptions of research data using metadata. With SND's tool DORIS, researchers can make data and metadata available in a way that makes them easy to find and understand.
- Unique and persistent identifiers. Through SND’s membership in DataCite, research data can be assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), ensuring long-term accessibility.
- An advanced search service for research data. Our national portal, Researchdata.se, provides access to research data and other resources published via SND, as well as research data and resources from several other research infrastructures and dissemination services.
SND also provides support and training in data management for all stages of the research process – from planning and collecting data to making the material accessible and ensuring its long-term preservation. We collaborate closely with most Swedish universities and several other research organizations, particularly in developing and maintaining local research data support services. Additionally, we work with national and international organizations committed to open science and improving access to research data.
Why should research data be openly accessible?
Open science and access to research data are important for several reasons. One of the most fundamental is reproducibility; research results must be verifiable. When data and methods are openly accessible, other researchers can review and validate findings.
Another aspect is collaboration. Open access to data and research results allows researchers to build on each other’s work. When data are accessible to all, researchers from different disciplines and across the world can collaborate more effectively.
Open science promotes a culture of sharing, which accelerates scientific progress and is crucial for tackling global challenges such as climate change and pandemics.
Much of today’s research is publicly funded, so making the results and data accessible is also for public benefit. Transparency fosters accountability while strengthening public understanding, trust, and engagement with science.
Researchdata.se
Researchdata.se is a national web portal where you can find, share, and reuse research data across multiple disciplines. Developed on SND’s initiative, it is the result of a collaboration between several Swedish research infrastructures.